Chapter 30

EPOV

"Edward," Bella whispered softly beside me, her voice broken and filled with fear.

I looked at her and she was pale, so damn pale. Her hands were shaking and she had her arms wrapped around her stomach as if she was trying to hold herself together.

Immediately I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to me and I could feel her shaking against my body. "Shhh, Bella," I crooned to her as she began to cry softly. "We'll figure something out. It will be okay," I told her, trying to convince her as well as myself.

This situation just went from creepy to really fucked up and not only was I terrified that something would happen to her…or to the kids…but now I was fucking pissed off, too.

How dare someone fucking try to intimidate Bella and by extension me? Not happening, no fucking way.

"I'm so sorry Edward," she said as she curled in even closer to me and I led us to the sofa in the living room where I could sit and hold her on my lap.

I ran my fingers over her head and through her hair and kissed the top of her head. I said, "Angel, this is not your fault. Please don't blame yourself, I don't and I won't allow you to do it either."

Her job may put her in the spotlight, but she had certainly never done anything to put herself out there the way that other celebrities had. The fact that some crazy fucker had a deluded fixation on her was in no way her fault.

"What are we going to do?" she asked sounding completely terrified.

I pulled my phone out and sent a quick text to Emmett in the next room. I wanted a chance to talk to him before anyone else found out what just happened, and that included Jasper and Seth. It wasn't that I didn't trust them, because of course I did, but Emmett was my brother and he came first…always.

"What's up brother mine? Do you need me to cover for you so you and Sweet B can sneak off, because you know I'd have your back," Em joked but immediately got serious when he saw Bella and me sitting on the sofa. "Edward, what is it?" he asked as he knelt down in front of the two of us.

"Emmett, Bella had a letter that was just delivered. I need you to take a look at it," I said as Bella squeezed my hand.

He bent over and picked up the envelope carefully and then picked up the paper that had fallen face down. When he turned it over he muttered a sharp 'motherfucker' before he looked at Bella and me.

"Holy shit Edward. This is really fucking serious," he said as he continued to look at the picture…and the words that were below it. The picture was bad enough, now that I had the context of it, but it was the words that caused me to want to rip my hair out. Of course that was after I beat the shit out of something…or someone.

The picture was of Bella and the kids, playing in the clearing across the street from the loft. The three were outside with Rufus and it looked to be taken from a relatively close distance. Bella had told me when it was taken and that is what had me terrified right now. It was from the day they redid the rooms at the loft…when they had only been outside for a mere thirty minutes…when Jasper and Seth were both inside…where we lived!

And then that fucking message….who the hell says something like that?

The more you ignore me, the closer I get

"Emmett, what do you think? What should we do?" I asked, completely deferring to my older brother on this. He knew people from being in the security business and had seen them in this exact same situation before. I trusted him with my life and more importantly, I trusted him with the lives of my children and with Bella's.

"Sweet B, I am really glad you and I get along so good because starting tomorrow, you're going to be seeing a lot more of me," Emmett said as he began to pace around the living room.

"Why is that Em?" Bella asked from beside me. She sounded calmer now and for that I was grateful.

He looked at me and then at Bella and then back at me again. I knew exactly what he was about to tell her and I had never loved my brother more than at that exact moment. "Because little sister, wherever you go, I go. No arguments," he said as he held up a hand to stop the fight she was about to give him. "I trust Seth, Bella, don't get me wrong. I know Jasper would never allow you to attend something that was dangerous for you, but I love my brother and I love my niece and nephew…and I love you too. There is no way you are taking one step out in public without me around. None. I have been around situations like this and I may pick up on something Seth or Jacob overlooks. If anything ever happened to you…there is not one person that I love that would survive it. Edward and the kids especially, but Ma and Pop too, not to mention my Rosie. So," he stopped in front of her and clapped his hands, "what's it going to be little one. Are you going to fight me on this or are we going to play nice?"

Bella and I both stood up and Bella sighed as she looked at Em. I knew the sigh was one of resignation. She knew I was stubborn enough, Emmett as well, and there was no way in hell she was getting out of this. "Thank you Emmett, I appreciate your wanting to help," Bella said graciously.

"Bella, this sucks, I know it does. It's scary and it's not fair but you are too important to this family for this to be taken lightly. Whoever this person is, it's obvious they are a lot closer than we ever imagined and quite honestly, that scares the living shit out of me. You were outside, what thirty minutes, when this was taken?" Emmett asked and when Bella nodded affirmatively he went on. "So far they haven't made any direct threat towards you or the twins, but the tone has certainly escalated now. I'm not going to lie to you; I'm worried about this…about you."

Motherfucker, his words hit me like a hammer to my chest and I found it difficult to breathe for a minute. Just the thought of something happening to her…or to Maddie or Masen was enough to buckle my knees and I had to sit down.

"I'm sorry Edward, but we can't pussyfoot around here. We need to figure this shit out and we need to do it quickly. I'm going to call my friend Riley of the NYPD ask him some hypothetical questions. I want to find out what our options are here. I'll be damned if I'm going to leave Bella as a sitting duck for some stupid fucker with a warped sense of reality. I'll be right back. You two need to talk to Jasper and Seth, too. I'll send them in," my brother said as he walked over to Bella and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you Bella. I give you my word I'll keep you safe," he said sincerely and then he turned his gaze to me. "You, too little brother, both things," he said gruffly as he bent down and kissed my head and hurried out of the room.

Emmett Cullen may have scared the shit out of quarterbacks in the NFL and he may be huge and intimidating in his line of work, but underneath all that was a man with a heart of gold that would give his life for those he loved.

"Shortcake, honey, are you okay?" Jasper asked as he hurried into the room followed by Seth and Rose.

"Bell," Seth said but didn't get anything else out as Jasper handed him the paper with the picture and the message on it. "Jesus Christ," he hissed as Rose let out a violent string of curse words that made me blush but I understood exactly where she was coming from.

I pulled Bella back to me and bent my head down against hers and just breathed her in for a few moments letting the three of them discuss the picture and the message.

"I love you Bella, try not to worry okay? I know it's hard, but we'll figure it out," I whispered to her, wanting to reassure her of my love and my promise that we would face this together.

She curled into me and pressed her nose against my chest and took a deep breath, "I love you too Edward."

It wasn't a promise not to worry, but I knew it was the best I was going to get until she had time to think things over for a bit…it was just what she did.

"Okay, I talked to Riley," Emmett said as he walked back in the room and looked at all of us. "Like I figured, the message is ominous as hell but, again, since it was not directly threatening, we still can't do much. Bella, sweetie, we've said it before no more going outside by yourself, for any reason. We need to alter your schedule a bit and any routine you usually follow needs to be changed as well."

"What about Maddie and Masen?" Bella asked quietly, her voice full of anguish. I knew she was terrified for them but she would also be devastated if she had to be apart from them.

Emmett shook his head almost immediately and said, "B, they are just as safe, if not more so at the loft with you and Edward as they are here at Ma and Pop's. You have all that added security there plus Seth and Jasper along with Edward. They will be fine there Bella, don't worry."

"I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to them," Bella muttered quietly, mostly to herself but we all heard her.

"Bell, we are all here for you and for Edward and the twins too," Seth said as he sat on the other side of Bella. "We're all family and family sticks together and we protect our own. Emmett told me his idea of coming along with us when we have to go out and I think it's a great idea. I know how you feel about Jacob and having Emmett come along alleviates most of that problem. Jacob will still be around, if we need him, but day to day it will be me, you and the big guy over there," Seth teased as Emmett grinned at the two of them.

I was so relieved, I couldn't even begin explain how much what Emmett offered to do meant to me. He had never done anything that meant more that was for sure and there was no way I would ever be able to repay him either.

"Excellent. I can't wait to see me some half naked bikini models," Emmett chuckled and then we all laughed when Rose got up and slapped him on the back of the head. "Ow! Babe, you know I was just kidding, the only bikini model I want to see is Sweet B!" This time I got up and slapped him and said, "That's my woman you're talking about there brother mine, you better watch your ass," before I bent down and gave him a brotherly hug and told him, "You will never know how grateful I am for what you are going to do for her…for me. I love you big brother."

After that, we spent the remainder of the day with the family and quietly let everyone know what had happened. I was trying to keep it away from Maddie and Masen as much as I could…and until it was necessary to do otherwise. There was no point in making them worry and be afraid and I swore I would make sure they never had to.

The week sped by with thankfully no more letters and no more drama from Lauren. Bella only threatened to kill Emmett about five times a day by the time it was Friday which was a vast improvement over the fifteen to twenty it started out as on Monday. I didn't let her fool me though, she adored my big brother and their relationship was extremely important to each of them. They were almost as close as she was to Seth and to Jasper.

The kids and I spent Wednesday and Thursday night with Bella at the loft and I was spending Friday night there too in order for us to spend Saturday night out for my birthday.

As we got into bed Friday night, I tried one more time to get what she had planned for my birthday out of Bella. "Bella, will you please tell me where we are going?" I asked as I seriously thought about giving her the full on Cullen pout to see if I could get it out of her.

She had been annoyingly adept all week long at keeping the plans for my birthday a secret.

I'd tried bribing everyone to see if I could figure out what she had up her sleeve but either all of my family and friends had become world class liars which was highly doubtful considering Emmett, or she hadn't told anyone what she'd planned.

"Edward, stop it. I swear you are acting worse than Masen does when he wants something. You'll find out tomorrow what we are going to do for your birthday and not one second before. Now shut the hell up and go to sleep unless you want me to call up Father O'Connor and have my date with him tomorrow night instead of you," she giggled as she looked over her shoulder at me.

I threw my head back on my pillow and huffed, "Fine baby, you win. I can not believe that pout didn't work on you!" I chuckled at her as she groaned and put her head down on her arm. I pulled her to me and whispered in her ear, "I love you Bella, thank you for tomorrow."

I moved her hair out of the way with my nose and licked and then sucked gently on the tender skin behind her ear and when she made that little squeaky sound in the back of her throat that drove me out of my fucking mind, I moved my hand up under her tank top to touch the smooth skin of her stomach.

Bella molded her body against mine and I could feel her breathing getting deeper with each passing minute. I inched my hand up until my thumb grazed the bottom of her breast and when I touched her nipple, Bella's breath hitched and I smiled against her shoulder.

Almost, I thought to myself. I almost had her right where I wanted her.

"Cullen, you are out of your fucking mind if you think that little move is going to work on me. Now go to sleep or I swear, we'll spend your birthday rearranging our closet…with Alice overseeing," Bella said and I knew I didn't have any choice but to let her have her way.

Not that I really wanted to know all that bad anyway, I just liked to get her all riled up.

Tiger Bella was awesome and I loved when she came out to play.

"Okay sweet girl, you win. I'll behave. If I was a bad boy, would you give me a spanking for my birthday?" I teased her one last time just to see if she would bite.

"Edward Anthony Cullen, you have exactly three seconds to take your hand off my boob, scoot your crotch away from my ass, and stop tempting me or else the birthday surprise I have planned for you after your first birthday surprise will stay locked away…and trust me, you so don't want that. Now what's it going to be?" she growled as she turned over to face me and I tried, I really did, to keep the smirk off my face, but holy mother of God if she wasn't the most fucking adorable thing…ever…when she was pissed.

"You are such an ass," Bella giggled at me and I pulled her towards me again only this time I was able to cup her sexy as fuck ass in my hands.

"Well, I certainly like this ass," I murmured to her and kissed her neck.

She huffed and then narrowed her eyes at me and I knew I'd better dial it back a bit before she really got pissed.

"Please, Edward. I just want to surprise you for your birthday. Can you please just stop and let me?" Bella said and then I felt like an ass.

I kissed the tip of her nose and then her forehead, "Of course baby. I'm sorry, no more pouting, I promise. Now be quiet, I'm trying to go to sleep here," I teased her as I kissed her one more time before we settled back against the pillows and fell asleep.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I reached for Bella only to find the bed empty…and cold. I groaned…I hated waking up without her next to me. Since the kids and I started spending the majority of our time here, I found that it was getting increasingly difficult to sleep without her at night. Not that I would expect anything else. I had a hard enough time making it through the day without seeing her, sleeping without her was torture…not really but it sure as hell felt that way at times.

I rolled out of bed and ran a hand through my hair as I walked towards the bathroom, smiling as I heard Bella on the phone in the kitchen. I peeked out the door at her and I sighed and then smiled when I saw her dancing as she made breakfast.

"Yes, Ali, I promise I'll wear it. I may die of embarrassment, but this is something I really want to do for him. I'm liable to stumble my way through it, but I am going to try at least," I heard Bella say, sounding excited but hesitant at the same time.

I couldn't imagine what she was talking about but I assumed it had something to do with my birthday surprise so I hurried into the shower before she caught me. Normally I would not be excited for my birthday but I would be lying if I said I wasn't for this one, I thought to myself as I stepped into the shower.

It had been an up and down two weeks and I was thoroughly looking forward to a night out with just Bella. No Seth or Emmett tagging along as bodyguards, hopefully no photographers lurked anywhere, no family or friends…not even Maddie and Masen. I loved my kids more than life itself and even thought we would both miss them it would be so nice to have some time to ourselves. We would see all of them tomorrow at dinner and I planned on enjoying my time with my girl. It would just be Bella and I and I couldn't fucking wait.

Standing under the steaming water I couldn't help but think back to my meeting with Felix and Alice about Lauren. To say he was shocked at her sudden appearance would be a fucking understatement and he wasted no time in pulling out the paperwork she had signed to ensure that every single 'I' was dotted and every 'T' was crossed. What no one could figure out was why now, what did she want and what possessed her to track me and the kids down at a childrens soccer game? Bella was convinced it was the article in the paper and while I didn't want to agree, I didn't really have much choice. I was sure it was the article that brought Lauren out of whatever hole she had dug for herself and I was determined to find out what she was up to…because rest assured it was something.

I told Felix to hire whatever private investigator he needed to find out where she was living now and what her current situation was. Legally, Lauren didn't have a leg to stand on, but if she was desperate for whatever reason, and it certainly looked like she was, there was no telling what she would stoop to. I mean hell, the woman basically sold her children for two million dollars. I am positive she was after more money and I was prepared to do whatever was necessary to keep her out of Maddie and Masen's life until they were old enough to decide when and if they wanted to see her. Now, was not going to be that time that was for damn sure. If I needed to give her money again to make sure she stayed away from all of us…I would do it in a heartbeat. There was no fucking way I was letting that bitch anywhere near mine and Bella's children…and yes Bella's. Maddie and Masen loved her like a child loved their mother and she loved them the same in return. Lauren was just shit out of luck if she thought there was room in any of our lives for the likes of her.

Lauren Mallory was history and the sooner she realized it, the better off we all would be. If she wanted to play hardball, she'd get it. Seven years ago was nothing compared to the lengths I would go to now to protect Maddie and Masen from her. She hadn't seen anything yet.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

As we walked into the Four Seasons Hotel, I couldn't help but be impressed at the opulence of the place and I was excited to see what else Bella had in store for our night.

She had obviously planned the day and night out in incredible detail and I was going to sit back and let her lead. The bellboy and I followed my love as she approached the front desk. I enjoyed watching Bella interact with people; she never realized the amount of charm she exuded around people even the front desk clerk that seemed to have lost her ability to speak as she stared at…me.

Bella rolled her eyes at the poor girl, but quickly got us checked in and retrieved our key to take us up to our room. When we walked into the deluxe suite, I took a deep breath and felt myself relax immediately as Bella tipped the bell hop and we were alone…finally.

"Baby, thank you so much for planning all of this," I told her as I walked up behind her and laid my chin on her shoulder as we looked out over Central Park…our Park.

She laced our fingers together where they rested on her stomach and giggled, "Edward, you don't even know what we're doing. How do you know you'll like it?"

I nuzzled her neck with my nose and left a trail of wet kisses up and down her neck before I whispered, "I'll love whatever it is Bella, because I'll be with you. Even if all we did was stay here and order room service and watch bad movies on TV, it wouldn't matter. Being with you is all that matters angel, everything else is just icing on the cake…preferably chocolate?" I teased her, knowing that she had baked a cake already and it was waiting for me at mom and dad's.

The little tease wouldn't tell me what kind it was either.

Bella turned around and wrapped her arms around my neck and ran her fingers through the hair at the back of my neck and I had to try really hard not to purr since it felt so fucking good.

She smirked at me when I let a small moan escape and thankfully she kept up what she was doing. "Okay sweetheart, we have a little bit of time before we have to start getting ready to go," she said as I looked at my watch. It was three o'clock and Bella had said we needed to leave no later than five thirty to be where we were going for six.

Her fingers ran through my hair again and this time her nails scraped against my scalp. This time I didn't even try to stop the moan that I felt at the back of my throat.

"Why don't we get undressed," Bella whispered seductively, "And then lay in that great, big comfortable looking bed over there," she went on as she licked the side of my jaw and reflexively my hands went to her ass and pulled her against me, "and take a nap." She giggled as I growled at her but the thought of crawling beneath the cool sheets was so inviting I nodded my head in agreement.

We each undressed and I couldn't help the way my eyes hungrily took her in as she put her hair up in a pony tail. She stood there in just a pair of chocolate brown lacy boy shorts. Her legs looked so fucking good…just like they always did and the cheeks of her delicious ass peeked out the bottom of her panties.

I could feel myself getting hard just from looking at her. It amazed me to no end that Bella had no idea how sexy she was…all the damn time. Like right now, she stood at the end of the bed, the late afternoon sun shone through the gauzy curtains and bathed her in a muted light while she ran her fingers through her hair. The muscles of her arms, back, and stomach flexed as she bent and twisted. She was graceful, ethereal in her movements and she literally took my fucking breath away.

"Bella," I said on a sigh.

She looked back at me over her shoulder and gave me a tender, loving smile and Jesus Christ if I didn't fall just a little bit more in love with her at that very moment.

This, right here right now, was my every reason for being happy…content… fulfilled.

What Bella could do to me with just a look with that twinkle she gets in her eyes or the way she had a smile that was just for me and no one else, or how when she got that little hitch in her breath when we made love or the way she said my name, all of it, every time, made me feel whole and like I'd finally found the path I was supposed to be on.

Bella turned around and stood there and watched me watch her. Normally she would duck her head and get that fucking adorable blush that made my heart beat faster but this time she actually seemed to welcome it.

It was hot as hell and I could only hope that it was an indication of what the rest of the night would bring.

"Come lay down with me sweet girl," I said softly as I held my hand out for her and she moved forward and let me lead her to the bed.

I pulled the covers back and slid into the bed and pulled her down with me. "I want to hold you baby," I whispered to her as I curled my body around hers, allowing as much of our skin to touch as possible.

"We could just stay like this tonight Bella and it would be the best present I could ever ask for," I said softly as I ran my fingers up and down her arm as we lay in the bed, the room completely silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the sounds of our breathing.

Bella chuckled gently and traced each of my fingers of the hand that held her to me that rested on her stomach, "You say that now Edward, but you have no idea what you'd be giving up if we did that. I promise we'll have a wonderful evening."

I yawned, her touch was so calming and even though I didn't think I was tired, I felt my eyes get heavy.

"Close your eyes old man, you are thirty three now you know, you need even more sleep than you did before," she giggled as I tickled her side just a bit.

"Ha ha little girl, you're so funny," I growled at her but the laugh was on me as she put her hand behind her and grazed my cock with the back of her hand. "Watch it Bella or neither one of us will be doing any sleeping."

"Sorry, I'll be good now. But, you need to rest; I have big plans for you and for that later on." she said in a husky voice and my mind was immediately filled with all the things that could possibly mean.

I snuggled next to her and let my head fall deeper into the pillow and closed my eyes, "I love you Bella," I said right before sleep overtook me.

I felt Bella's warm, soft lips on my back as she pressed her chest up against it and ran her fingers over my muscles. I seriously thought about pretending to still be asleep so she wouldn't stop but alas, I'd already been caught when she placed a wet, open mouthed kiss right between my shoulder blades and said, "I know you're awake Edward. I'm going to go ahead and start getting ready. I've laid out your clothes in the other bedroom and fixed you a drink and a light snack. We need to be ready to go in about an hour, okay?"

Turning over, and damn I really didn't want her to stop touching me, I pulled her on my chest and kissed her deeply and pulled the tie out of her hair so I could run my fingers through it. I nibbled on her bottom lip and then pressed my tongue into her mouth and savored the feeling when mine touched hers. I narrowed my eyes when I noticed that she had my t-shirt on, but kissing her tended to make me forget everything else.

Bella relaxed on top of me and I could feel her nipples as they got hard and rubbed against my chest but she resisted when I tried to shift our bodies so I could pay them the attention they deserved. "Uh uh Edward. If we start that, we'll never be out of here in time and we can not be late, not even one minute," she said as she shimmied off of me.

I sighed exaggeratedly but I wouldn't mess up her plans no matter how badly I wanted to make love to her right now. "Okay Bella, this is your show. I'll just stay out here, all by myself, while you lock yourself away in the bathroom," I pouted, but knew it had no chance in hell of working.

"Pull the lip back in Cullen, it's not going to work and you know it. Now, go eat your snack and let me go make myself beautiful for you," Bella said as she walked to the bathroom.

Oh, no fucking way was she getting away with saying something like that. "Isabella Marie Swan, don't ever say that again or else I will put you over my knee and give you spanking. You most definitely do not need to make yourself beautiful, you already are," I said as I grabbed her hand when I sprung out of the bed to stop her.

I quickly brushed my lips against hers and I may have, accidentally on purpose ground my semi- hard cock against her thigh and there was no way I could stop the smirk that appeared on my face when I heard her moan softly in the back of her throat. I pulled her even closer to me and I could feel her heart beating through the thin material of the shirt and her eyes were shining brightly and I felt her smile as she pressed her forehead against my chest.

"Edward, baby, I really have to start getting ready. I have everything all planned, please? I promise it will all be worth it," Bella said softly as her hands ran across my back. Bending forward, I kissed the top of her head and then pushed her away from me…she was utterly too tempting for her own damn good.

"Okay angel, go on. I'll see you in about an hour…I suppose I can bear to part with you for that long," I sighed dramatically and she rolled her eyes at me, just like I knew she would. "See you in a bit," she said with a smile as she blew me a kiss and closed herself in the bedroom to do God knew what.

I smiled at the closed door for a brief moment before I made my way to the sofa where Bella had a plate of cheeses, crackers and sliced fruit and a cold bottle of water. I sat down and marveled at the way she always thought of everything and turned on the television to watch the baseball game while I ate my snack.

Once I was done with that and relaxed for a few minutes, I made my way to the guest bedroom and bathroom to get ready myself. Bella had laid out a black suit, crisp white shirt and black, cranberry and white tie. My shaving kit was already in the bathroom on the counter with a note that left me specific instructions to not shave…my girl had a thing for scruff that was for damn sure, but I would do as she asked. I took a long time in the shower thinking about the night to come and getting more excited by the second. It was obvious Bella had spent a lot of time planning everything out so I had no doubt that whatever she thought of would be spectacular.

I finished the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist and as I stepped into the bedroom, I could hear music playing and could vaguely make out Bella singing in the other room. I took a deep breath as I tried not to imagine her naked just a room away as she got ready…for me. It was really fucking hard sometimes to even remember what my life was like before she crashed into it. I was content, thrilled with being a father of course and I loved my job and my family, but as for me personally, I was just going through the motions most days. I found enjoyment in the little things like taking the kids to the park on a Sunday, working out with Emmett, taking Mama to lunch…spending time with my dad and Alice and Tanya. But I wasn't fulfilled… not by a long shot. That happened the day Bella and I found each other and I knew I would never be the same again.

Walking over to the bed, I put on the boxers and the pants that my love wanted me to wear and then tried to fix my hair, knowing that the effort was futile at best. Besides, my girl loved my hair when it was a mess…she thought it was sexy so who was I to argue? I sprayed some cologne and then put the shirt on before grabbing my tie and jacket to put on in the living room as I waited for Bella to come out.

Glancing at my watch as I laid the jacket over the back of the sofa, my stomach got that fluttery feeling in it as I got more and more excited to find out where we were going and what she was going to be wearing. I loved Bella when she was in her everyday clothes around the house, I really loved her when she was in her shorts and t-shirt at Maddie's practices but Bella when she was dressed up….my heart had a hard time keeping up with my breathing. There was just something about my Bella when she put on a dress that dropped me to my knees and made me want to offer my everlasting thanks to the man…or woman that invented high heels and short dresses.

I stood in front of the window and looked out over the city and was lost in thought when I heard the door open. I picked my head up and saw Bella's reflection in the window, my body locked in place and I swear my cock got hard instantly as I stared at her.

"Edward," Bella softly said as I turned around to look at her.

Holy fucking hell she was breathtaking. I stopped her with my hand when she started to walk towards me and without a word, I motioned with my finger that I wanted her to spin around so that I could see her from every angle.

She gave me a tender smile but did as I asked and when she faced me again I moved toward her, feeling the pull I got every damn time she was close to me. Bella stood still and waited and I couldn't help the pride I felt when I watched her eyes darken as she took me in. The soft sigh she let escape on a tiny breath when I got close to her made me feel like the luckiest son of a bitch in the world…which I damn sure was.

I reached down and picked up her hand to my mouth. I turned it over so that I could kiss the inside of her wrist. When I touched the tender skin there with the pad of my thumb and could smell the intoxicating scent of her and I couldn't help but let the tip of my tongue taste her as well.

The sharp intake of breath I heard from her made me chuckle darkly and if I didn't know that we had somewhere to be momentarily, I can guaranfuckingtee I would have swept her up and taken her straight to the bedroom…in a damn heartbeat.

"Isabella," I said in a somewhat strangled sounding voice. Even to my own ears it sounded like I could barely think straight. "You are without a doubt the most exquisite creature God ever created," I told her afraid that I was about to fall to pieces I was in such awe of her beauty. "You are positively breathtaking and I can't even find the words to tell you how magnificent you look…you are."

"Oh Edward," Bella said warmly and then stood on her tip toes to kiss my cheek. "You look extremely handsome yourself Mr. Birthday Boy."

I held her hand in mine but stepped away from her so I could look at her again, Jesus she was a fucking vision. Her dress was the same deep cranberry color that was in my tie and it hugged every damn curve of her luscious body. The top was cut straight across the tops of her breasts which, thank God, showed just enough to drive me fucking insane but not so much that I would be tempted to throw her down every five minutes and have my way with her.

Who the hell was I kidding? I would do that anyway.

The dress was short, and showed off her enticing legs and her feet were encased in the sexiest damn shoes I had ever seen in my life. I was not a foot person in any way, shape or form, but I'd be damned if I didn't admit that Bella's feet didn't turn me the fuck on. They were small and delicate and so fucking soft…they drove me insane.

Her hair was half up and half down. The part that was down was in big, soft waves and it made me want to bury my fingers in it…after my nose got its fill first of course. Her makeup was flawless and the only jewelry she wore was her pendant and some chunky gold bracelets on the slim wrist of her left hand.

In a word, Bella was fucking perfection.

"I want to kiss you Bella, please," I told her sincerely. If I didn't get to kiss her within the next thirty seconds I felt like I might fall apart.

She gripped my hand harder and pulled me to her and I crushed her body against mine, trying so hard to be careful to not wrinkle either her or me but damn, I wanted that mouth and needed to feel her soft lips. I bent my head down and inhaled, my body reacted viscerally to her scent and I captured her mouth in a passion filled kiss that set my entire body aflame with a want so great it almost overtook me.

"I love you so much Bella. You have no idea the things I feel for you, I can't even put it into words," I mumbled to her as I kissed her over and over again.

Bella made that hot as hell sound in the back of her throat, kind of a half moan half squeak and then she took a step back and took a deep breath. I'd be a lying motherfucker if I didn't feel smug as hell that I did that to her…and couldn't wait to do it again too.

"I love you too Edward," she said on a sigh, "but we need to go. We can't be late."

I grabbed my tie off the back of the sofa and quickly tied it and slipped my jacket on as she smoothed down her dress and checked her lipstick in mirror by the front entryway. She waited for me by the door and we made it out and to the front desk without me attacking her…which I really, really wanted to do.

"Hi, yes. My name is Bella Swan and I believe you have a car for us?" I heard my love say as she talked to the dumbstruck clerk behind the counter. The poor guy's eyes looked like they could fall out of his head and his mouth was open so wide I'm surprised his jaw didn't become unhinged.

Bella waited patiently for the guy to come to his senses and after he typed a few things on his computer, he picked up the phone and then told her, "Yes, ma'am. Your car and driver are waiting for you out front. Have a pleasant evening," he managed to stammer out but not before he gulped as he caught me glaring at him. Appreciate her all you want, but you'd damn well better do it respectfully.

"Thank you," Bella said demurely and held her hand out for me to take and we walked outside where a black Town Car was waiting for us. Thankfully the driver was an older man named Tom and he was polite but didn't stare at my girl like she was a piece of fucking meat so I was able to sit back and enjoy the peace of the ride to…wherever.

As soon as we were situated in the car and began to our destination, Bella looked at me and said, "Edward, let's just enjoy tonight. No worrying about creepy letters, or Jake or Lauren or even our friends and family. This night is for you, for us to spend focused solely on each other. All of that crap will be there tomorrow, but for tonight, is it all right if it's just you and I?"

"Isabella, I can't think of anything else I'd rather do than focus solely on you. Of course it's okay…tonight it's just you and I, no one else," I said as I leaned across the seat to kiss her cheek.

I held her hand in mine and rubbed the inside of her wrist with my thumb and we talked quietly for a few minutes before we stopped in front of the Time Warner Center. Bella smiled brightly at me and waited for me to come around and open her door.

I helped her out and looked at the building before comprehension dawned and I looked at her, stupefied, "Baby, how in the hell did you manage this?" I couldn't believe it, we were standing in front of the building where the best restaurant in New York was housed…Masa.

"When we first met and you told me you loved sushi, I remembered and called last month to make a reservation for your birthday. I hope you like it," she said hesitantly.

"Bella, damn angel. I had no idea you would plan something like this and that you remembered something I said from so long ago," I said as we walked inside and made our way up the escalators to the restaurant.

Bella had to announce us to the security guard and the hostess before we entered the restaurant and were shown to our two of the ten seats at the bar. The restaurant was dimly lit, windowless and it was so quiet. There were no menus, the sushi chefs would prepare our meal and from start to finish, the entire process was supposed to take about three hours.

After we sat for a few moments and soaked up the ambiance and talked in nothing above a hushed whisper as the other diners for the evening were shown to their seats, I couldn't help but feel almost overwhelmed at what Bella had done for me. You had to call ahead at least a month in advance to get a reservation and even longer than that to get a seat at the bar where we would watch the chefs prepare our food and I couldn't believe that she had been planning this night for such a long time. The servers went around the bar and asked everyone to turn off their cell phones and gave us our chopsticks to use throughout the meal. We ordered a bottle of sake and waited patiently for the chefs to begin.

I leaned over and kissed Bella's shoulder, and whispered, "This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me Bella. Thank you so much."

She turned her head and caught my lips briefly and smiled against them and answered back, "I can't wait to experience this with you Edward, and then when we get back to our room, you get your second surprise," she giggled and got a wicked gleam in her eye that went straight to my dick…I only hoped that look meant what I thought it did.

Chef Masa Takayama walked out with two other chefs and the meal started. As the meal progressed, I couldn't decide who I liked watching more, the world famous chef or Bella. She glowed, like really fucking glowed as we sat there…and I couldn't keep my hands off her. I watched as she picked up her succulent piece of toro and as she wrapped her lips around the piece of sushi, I actually moaned out loud, imagining those lips wrapped around me. We took turns feeding each other, our hands never straying away from the other. It was the most erotic experience of my life and we hadn't even so much as touched the more intimate parts of the other.

Bella and I ate and drank and lived in our own little bubble for the three hours it took to complete each course. We had finished the best meal I was sure I would ever have…not to mention I am sure the most expensive. Bella would never tell me how much it was, but I knew from reading about it in the paper that the cost was upwards of $400 a person and that was before drinks and tip.

When we exited the restaurant, Bella was practically wrapped around me. She had both of her arms wrapped around mine and she laid her head on my shoulder as we walked. I'm pretty sure if I would have found a place to sit she would have crawled on my lap and curled up there…and I wouldn't mind a fucking bit. Everyone stared at her was we walked to the car…she was so fucking gorgeous who could blame them and I had to admit I felt damn proud to be the one she was with.

She was quiet on the way back to the hotel and, even though I normally wouldn't let her ride in a car without her seatbelt on, Bella scooted as close to me as she could possibly get and I laid my arm around her and held her close to me.

"Bella, that meal was the most amazing thing I have ever tasted. I don't know how I can ever top that," I told her as she tipped her head up for a kiss…which I more than happily granted her.

She reached up and held cupped my cheek with one of her hands and said, "It's not a competition Edward. I just wanted to do something nice for you to celebrate your birthday and to let you know how much I love you."

"As I love you sweet girl," I whispered to her and pulled her closer to me, my body tingling from head to toe as I thought about showing her just how much when we made it back into the room.

We walked into the suite after one of the best nights I had ever had…ever. Bella had been amazing all night, so confident and bold, flirty…sexy. I was turned on like you wouldn't believe, one touch from her and I swear I would explode. My body felt like it was on fire, and every time she touched me…and most of the time it was on purpose, the heat from her skin against mine was painfully exquisite.

"Edward," Bella said in the sexiest voice I had ever heard come out of her mouth. "If I asked you to do something for me, would you?"

I took off my suit jacket and loosened my tie as I looked at her, "Bella, you don't even have to ask that question, you know I would."

She walked…no she strutted, her hips moved seductively as she approached me and wrapped her hand around the tie and pulled my head down to hers and whispered in my ear, "Will you please sit in that chair over there," she said as she pointed to the club chair in the corner of the room, “and wait for me for about fifteen minutes?" I nodded my head as I tried to figure out what she was up to, and then she finished, "and when I say, will you please close your eyes?" she asked me in a breathless voice and then she licked my bottom lip before she bit down on it gently. I could only nod my head at her, it seemed that I momentarily lost the ability to speak.

"Get comfortable baby, fix yourself a drink. I'll be back out in about fifteen minutes," Bella said as she walked into the bedroom of the suite and shut the door.

I did what she asked and fixed myself a glass of scotch, even after all the sake I consumed during that fuck awesome dinner…Jesus, I still couldn't believe she did that for me, and stood and looked out the windows at the lights of the city.

My mind wandered and I couldn't help but think about my trip to D.C. and coming home…and it was home now, to a trail of cupcakes and to the most amazing woman in the world. When I opened the door and saw the lights off my first thought was of course straight to the bedroom. I'm a guy, it's what we do. I saw all the lights off and it was quiet, I thought that meant no kids and she was waiting for me in our bed….hopefully naked. Well, she sure was waiting for me just not in the way I envisioned. Of course there was no way I could have imagined what was behind those three closed doors.

Bella flabbergasted me…there isn't any other word for it. I was utterly dumbfounded by what she'd done and even more so when she told me why she did it. She wanted the loft to feel like our home? Christ the woman never ceased to amaze me. Maddie and Masen's rooms were totally perfect for them. The pink and blue of Maddie's and the polka dots fit our little girl to a T and the hanging chair in the corner for her to read in was something only my Bella would think of. And Masen's? Holy hell, the boy was in heaven in his own room with a bean bag chair and a TV! Sometimes it was next to impossible to get him to leave his room he loved it so much.

But it was when I opened the door to our room that the enormity of what Bella had done really hit me…and hit me it did, right in the heart. I saw the ottoman and chair from my room at Ma and Pop's, I saw my guitar on its stand in the corner, I noticed my things from my dresser now mixed in with Bella's and I saw a new bed with a new comforter on it…in our room. And by God, it was our fucking room now. It was our house now. She'd made her home our home…our family's home and she'd done it without thinking twice about it.

I was still amazed, every damn day that we somehow managed to find each other in the city that was below me. In the midst of all those people, we were able to find our other half, our soul mate, and I thanked God every single day for the gift that she truly was.

"Edward, will you sit in the chair now please?" Bella spoke from the bedroom and pulled me away from my thoughts. I finished the drink in my hands in one big gulp and sat in the chair she wanted and said, "Okay, baby, I'm sitting."

"Close your eyes birthday boy. If you open them, you don't get to unwrap your present," Bella said in a sultry voice.

I settled back into the chair, my mind reeling as I thought about what she could possibly be doing. I heard the door open and then I heard the sound of fabric rustling as she walked. She moved towards the iPod docking station and I could tell when she had it connected and had picked up the remote.

There wasn't any sound in the room except for my breathing and the muffled sounds coming from the city below us. I could barely hear Bella, but I sure as shit could feel her. The electricity positively buzzed all around me and not only that, I could smell her. Strawberries, vanilla…a hint of cinnamon maybe, I wasn't sure. Whatever it was, it invaded my senses and took away most of my rational thought.

I felt her arms come over the back of me and her hands rested on my chest while she spoke in a soft, husky voice, "Edward, I have a very special surprise for you but I need for you to keep these hands right here," she said as she picked them up and placed them on the arm rests of the chair, "because if they don't, then what I have planned for you stops immediately."

Her lips were over my ear and I felt her tongue on the lobe of my ear and when her teeth bit gently my body ignited from her touch. "Can you do that for me Edward?"she asked and when her warm breath touched the wet spots on my ear, I shivered.

Jesus fucking Christ, she was seriously trying to kill me with this…where the hell did this Isabella come from?

I nodded my head, because really, I couldn't even form a coherent thought and I hadn't even laid my eyes on her yet. "Good boy," she giggled and then she was gone.

Gripping the arm rest with my hands, I heard the iPod come on and John Legend's Alright began to play.

"Baby open your eyes," my love said and I swear to fucking God that every single solitary muscle in my body froze. The image that was in front of me would be in my mind from this day forward until the day I died…hell even then it would be with me.

She was without a fucking doubt the sexiest, the most sensual …and hell, the fucking hottest…woman on the face of the damn planet. Bella stood about ten feet away from me in a short, black silk kimono, black stockings and black heels that made her legs look so fucking phenomenal I couldn't even think of a word to describe them. Her hair was a wild mess, huge waves and curls every where and her eyes…fuck me her gorgeous brown eyes were lined with dark, smoky eyeliner and her lips…especially that bottom one that tantalized me so damn much was covered with a deep red color making her mouth look even more kissable than ever…and I never would have thought that was possible.

"Fuck, Bella…" I groaned out as I shifted in the chair. I really wanted to adjust myself but I was too afraid to move my hands because if she stopped now I was positive I would combust.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Usually I don't do this but ok?

Ok, I see you checking me out (checking me out)

I think I know what you winkin' about (winking about)

The beat of the song was making her start to sway her hips and as I watched her untie the belt on her robe I could feel my heart begin to beat faster when I realized she had something on under that provocative number she had on right now.

She locked me in place with her smoke shaded eyes and I suddenly found it was hard to breathe as she opened the robe and let it fall gracefully off her shoulders to the floor behind her.

If I could have imagined Bella, and I had before, trust me, in the thing that would make all rational thought leave my mind and turn me into a bumbling idiot, I never, fucking ever would have been able to come up with what she was wearing right now.

Bella stood there, in the most erotic looking article of clothing I could have ever conjured up and she looked like sin…or an angel, I couldn't put two thoughts together enough to decide one way or the other. She was wearing a body hugging ivory chemise with black trim…but the material, holy mother of God, the material was in strips of satin fabric that stretched and fit her delectable body like a fucking glove. The garters on the side clipped to the sheer black stockings she was wearing and the black triangles that covered her breasts and the lines of black on the front and holy shit the back which I notice as she turned around in a seductive twirl, immediately grabbed my attention.

She held my stare and I could feel her intense gaze fall over me like a soft caress. My body was on fire, and my skin tingled…from my scalp all the way down to my toes.

The music still played in the background and Bella began to walk towards me…moving like she fucking owned me, which God damn it she did.

Alright

I see a little something that I like

You lookin' mighty fine in them skin tights

You know what I mean

"Bella, my fucking God baby…you're incredible," I panted as she began to dance…really dance in front of me now.

She reached forward and began to unbutton my shirt, her fingernails scraped the skin over my chest and abdomen as she shook her hips seductively in front of me.

As soon as she pushed my shirt all the way open, she shimmied backwards and ran her hands up her body, and the way she moved, I had never seen Bella act so seductive or so confident and it was the hottest damn thing I'd ever witnessed.

Bella swiveled her hips in time with the music… her hair flying around her face in a cloud of strawberry scented mahogany as her fingers flipped it up and she closed her eyes and licked her lips as her hands cupped her breasts and then went back down over her stomach.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah-yeah

Good Lord you got body for days (body for days)

I think that the way you shake it's amazing (it's amazing)

I got my keys if you ready to leave (ready to leave)

She turned around and dropped to the ground and twisted back up again as she looked at me over her shoulder. Her ass looked fucking perfect and she taunted me by wiggling it at me. When she backed up and that luscious ass was right in front me, it took every ounce of my willpower to keep my hands attached to the arm rests.

"Edward, baby," Bella moaned out as she rubbed her ass against my straining erection, "you want to touch me don't you?" She dug her nails into the muscles of my thighs and arched her back as she moved back and forth over me.

"Isabella, you have no fucking idea what I want to do to you," I ground out as I clenched my jaw against the need that was fighting for it's release.

Bella quickly stood up and I didn't have time to ache for the loss as she turned around and lifted her leg up and straddled my thigh. She ran her fingers through the light smattering of chest hair I had and the trail of hair that made a line from my belly button downward.

When she pressed her body forward and her satin covered breasts rubbed against my chest and I could feel her hardened nipples through the thin, smooth material, my mouth began to water as I imagined what taking those hardened peaks into my mouth would taste like…feel like.

"Oh fuck, Bella!" I said through gritted teeth. "Please, oh God…I need to…please let me touch you," I panted, as I tried not to close my eyes.

"Be patient birthday boy. This is for you…just sit back and enjoy it Edward," my sexy vixen whispered. "Besides, you can't touch me, if you do, this ends right now," Bella teased as her eyes burned brightly.

Come on why don't you test me (test me)

If you want me come and get me (get me)

I'll show you who the best be (best be)

I'll watch you for a long time (long time)

I swear you're looking alright (alright)

Come closer if you like what you see

It's alright with me

She ground her hips seductively over me and my cock was screaming for attention but of course the sex goddess refused. Bella bent her head forward and licked up the side of my jaw as her hips moved in perfect synchronized rhythm with the music and when she dipped her head down to flick her warm tongue across my nipple and then blew on it, I almost lost my shit right then.

"Holy fucking shit Bella," I screeched and I was sure I sounded like a kid about to go through puberty but I didn't much care right then. "I have never seen…you are the most…just fuck Bella, please? I can't take much more of this," I fucking begged her.

I was out of my mind in my desire for her…my need to claim her…my ache to fill her over and over again.

The song was winding down but Bella looked like she was no where close to being done torturing me…and fuck if it wasn't the most delicious torture I had ever endured but I was about at the end of self restraint.

She stared at me and scooted off my lap and stood up in front of me, her eyes pinned me to the back of the chair. I'm pretty sure I was turning red from not breathing and when I saw her reach up behind her back to take hold of the zipper and then heard the sound of the zipper opening I gripped the armrests so tightly that my fingers turned white. I tried to even out my breathing so I didn't pass out from air deprivation because if I missed even one second of the performance in front of me, I would never forgive myself.

Bella's hips rolled and swiveled with the end of the song; her timing was impeccable as she thrusted and gyrated with each pounding beat and with each sensual movement. She stood in front of me, looking like fucking sex incarnate and when the chemise slipped down her body, over her breasts and then over her slim hips and down those silk encased legs, I couldn't help but move my hands and clutched at my chest.

The panties, she had on underneath, if you could even call them that…they were more like a work of art…at least on Bella. The panties were black satin and came to a 'v' over her pussy but it was when she turned around that I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind. There wasn't a back; there wasn't a string either, there were only black satin bands of material like those of the chemise and they laid across her scrumptious ass like they were made to fit there. I didn't ever want her to take them off…but then again I did. All I knew is that the image of those slivers of skin would be embedded in my brain from now until forever.

She looked at me over her shoulder as the song ended and then switched to a random playlist and I was breathing so heavily I was sure people could hear me forty floors down.

"Isabella, that was the most fucking incredible thing I have ever witnessed," I panted to her as I tried to get control of rapidly dwindling self restraint.

She turned around and faced me. Her chest was flushed a pale shade of pink as were her cheeks. There were tiny beads of sweat running down in between her gorgeous breasts, some of her damp hair was stuck to her cheek and her neck and I couldn't wait any longer.

"Baby, I'm going to thank you properly for the most amazing night of my fucking life," I said in a low, deep and gravelly voice. "I'm going to fuck you and then I am going to make love to you until you scream my name so loud every damn person in this hotel can hear you. Do you understand me Bella?" I questioned as I took her into my arms and kissed her as rough as I ever had before.

She responded in kind and the more she writhed against me and tugged on my hair, the more my hands gripped her ass and pinched her already hard nipples. Bella reached down between us and undid my belt and pants as I ripped my shirt off, caring not one damn bit where anything landed. I hated to do it, but I slid her thong down her legs leaving her in an almost indecent pair of black thigh high stockings and her heels. Bella bent down and began to push them down when I reached out for her hand and whispered, shaking my head at her, "Leave them on," was all I said. She nodded and then pushed my boxers and pants down in one smooth motion and my cock, once it was free from its confines was so fucking hard I was positive it had never been more so. I know for a fact I had never been more turned on, never wanted Bella as badly as I did right that second and I picked her up and let her wrap her legs around me.

I walked us over towards the windows that looked out over our Park and when her back was flush with the windows, I lowered her onto my aching cock and watched her face as I entered her inch by motherfucking excruciating inch.

"Look at me Bella…" I hissed when she closed her eyes and threw her head back. "Fuck Bella…oh Jesus…" I grunted as she completely engulfed me in her warm, soaked pussy and when her eyes locked with mine I swear I saw stars and the heavens and…hell, even the meaning of life.

Bella reached out and wrapped her arms around my neck as I bent me knees and then thrusted upwards inside of her, deeper than I had ever been before.

"Oh fuck Edward…that feels so damn good," Bella moaned out as I began to move inside of her watching her pussy slide up and down my cock.

"Fucking look at that Isabella…look!" I commanded and when her bottom lip went in between her teeth as she watched me pump in and out of her I reached up with my thumb and pulled it out.

"Mine," I said with a grunt and flexed the muscles in my legs and felt her pussy squeeze my cock from deep inside of her.

Her back was pressed completely against the window and the squeaking sound that came from our movements overtook almost everything else in the room and the next time I pushed into her, I felt her come, her juices coating my cock and I kept up until I was sure she was done.

I stopped, smirking when I heard her whimper of protest as I lifted her off of me. I set her on the ground and turned her around and looked at our reflections in the window. It was the most intensely erotic thing I'd ever seen in my life, our chests heaved with want, our eyes dark with need and lust and our bodies were both covered in a sheen of sweat.

My hands ran over the perfectly round cheeks of her ass and I slipped a finger easily and deeply inside of her. "You're so fucking wet baby," I mumbled as I pressed her chest flush against the windows and dipped my head to suck on the skin behind her ear. After I inhaled her scent and let it fill my nose, I stuck my tongue out to caress the red mark I just left…the one that marked her as mine.

It was animalistic and primal to the very core, but I couldn't give a fuck. The woman had driven me to the brink of ecstasy and I was almost delirious in everything I was feeling. "You're fucking mine Isabella…do you hear me?" I asked as I gritted my teeth as my cock slipped between the cheeks of her ass.

"Yours Edward…only yours," Bella managed to rasp out as I pressed another finger inside of her.

"Say it again Bella, scream it," I groaned out as I added a third finger and felt the moisture from her drip down my wrist.

I reached around with my other hand and took her clit between my thumb and index finger and when I pushed inside her as deep as I could I pinched and the sound that escaped from her as she came…again… was one I would hear in my dreams every damn night from now on.

"Edward, oh fuck…yes baby…" Bella continued to scream and I didn't stop, didn't let up even the tiniest bit.

"Again Bella, give it to me again, let me feel you," I whispered to her as I bit down on her shoulder and she did as I commanded and came again…letting a wild scream out and filled the room with her sounds.

She tossed her head back and forth; her hair a tangled mess and her body writhed and thrashed on my hand as she rode out her orgasm in wanton pleasure. I turned her head and kissed her deeply, taking full possession of her mouth and I swallowed every moan and groan of her pleasure as her body continued to feel the aftershocks of her orgasm.

Bella turned around and pulled my mouth down to hers again and then she moved to my neck where I could feel the moisture from her tongue in the air conditioned chilled air and she whispered, "Take me to bed now Edward, I need to feel you inside of me. Make me yours again."

I swept her up in my arms and took her to the bedroom where I laid her completely out on top of the bed once I threw all the blankets to the floor. Her hair fanned out behind her head and her eyes shone in the moonlight that flooded the room.

"Bella, you take my breath away. Let me love you again, please," I begged her and when she held her hand out to me I immediately covered her body with my own. I touched every inch of her skin, the skin that taunted me all damn night, the skin that set my fingertips on fire and I licked and tasted every bit of her that my fingers had touched. The hollow of her throat, the collar bones that drove me wild with desire, the inside of her elbow, the delicate skin beneath her belly button, the inside of her thighs, her ankles.

She whimpered and groaned from the back of her throat and I knew her body was at its tipping point, much like my own. My cock ached to be inside of her, I could feel it throb more with each passing moment and when she choked out a desperate, "Please Edward, I need you so badly…please," I knew I could wait no more.

I crawled up her body and sat back on my knees and soaked her up with my eyes one more time before I hooked her legs in the crook of my elbows and pulled her down the bed closer to me and let my cock enter her. I watched her face and when I saw my look, the one she got every damn time we made love, I knew I wouldn't last long.

"Put your hands over your head baby," I breathed out as I moved in and out of her and when she stretched her body out like I demanded of her I bent forward and took one of her nipples into my mouth. After I lapped at the hard peak, I bit down on it gently and groaned out loud when her pussy clenched around my cock.

"Yes…oh God Edward…feels so good," Bella murmured as she shook her head from side to side. "You feel so good inside of me baby," she rasped as her back arched off the bed as I bit her again…harder this time.

"I love you Bella, so fucking much," I ground out as I increased my rhythm, knowing that I was about to come. "Oh Bella…please baby…come for me…now," I begged, needing to feel her come around me before I let go.

I stretched out over her, still holding her legs and captured her mouth with mine and bit her bottom lip and then sucked on her tongue before I pushed my tongue into her mouth and tasted every bit of her mouth.

"Fuck…Jesus, oh…Bella," I grunted as I felt Bella's stomach and thigh muscles tense in anticipation of the orgasm that was eminent. "Shit…please…come…let it go," I felt her tremble beneath me and her hips lifted off the bed and she came with such a force that I was stunned stupid for a moment before her walls completely engulfed me and I released inside of her in stream after stream.

The sweat was pouring off of us but neither of us cared as I collapsed on top of her and then rolled us on our sides. I brushed the damp tendrils of her hair back from her face and forehead and kissed her softly there. I chuckled a bit to myself at the seemingly incongruousness of a gentle kiss after the way I had taken her before.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly as I pulled her close to me.

She smiled at me and the satisfied smirk that was on her face eased my mind but she said, "Of course I am, that was incredible."

"I don't have words to explain what that was," I smirked back to her and we laid there in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

We got up to take a shower after a time and spent the entire time touching and kissing…we were both completely consumed with the other and I never wanted it to end. We took turns drying the other off and we climbed back into bed where we spent the rest of the night exploring each other with our hands, fingers, mouths and tongues until we finally fell asleep as the sun was beginning to rise.

Waking sometime after noon, we had a leisurely brunch and made our way back to Ma and Pop's in the late afternoon.

"Daddy!" Maddie and Masen squealed as they each wrapped their arms around a leg and I had to fight to stay upright. I bent down and picked them up, one in each arm and for the briefest of moments felt sorry for myself that they would soon be too old to pick up anymore. But, I shook that thought off almost instantly and vowed to enjoy them…today, right now.

"What's up munchkins? Did you guys have fun with Nana and Papa last night?" I asked as I kissed them each on the cheek before setting them down on the ground. I let them each take hold of a hand and they drug me to the table in the kitchen where my mom was busy whispering in Bella's ear.

"We did. Daddy, guess what?" Maddie excitedly asked and I couldn't help but giggle at my precious princess. "What?" I said with exaggerated excitement. "Papa made us a tent in the living room and we gots to sleep in it with Rufus, but we hads to take it down before we went to church."

"I hope Rufus was a good boy, you did remember to let him potty before he laid down with you didn't you?" I asked as I looked at Masen. "Of course Daddy, we're not babies you know," my son huffed at me and then crossed his arms. "Oh, that's right. I forgot, you're almost eight years old now! You're old, just like me!" I said and laughed at his shocked face.

"Me and Mad are not old like you Daddy. You're really old, Bella even says so!" He giggled at me as I growled at him and then my brain caught up with what he said. "Bella said I was old did she?" I said loud enough to get her attention and she chuckled at me and then took a sharp breath as I got up from the table to move towards her.

She was on the other side of the island and I narrowed my eyes at her, "So, little girl. What is this I hear about you calling me old, hmmm?" I asked. Bella leaned on the island and crooked her finger at me and when I got close enough to her, she put her mouth beside my ear and whispered, "Nobody that was old could ever, ever make love the way you did last night Edward. I'm sorry I ever called you old," then she left a warm, wet open mouthed kiss right behind my ear.

"You are so forgiven angel," I told her as I brushed my lips against hers.

She could call me old any fucking time she wanted as long as I got to make love to her the way I did last night. Oh sure, we fucked too, there is no mistaking that, but whether you called it fucking, getting it on, having sex or whatever else…it was all still making love.

"Break it up you two," my brother yelled as he walked into the kitchen, kissing my girl first before he slapped me on the back. "Happy birthday, little brother," Emmett said.

Rose walked in behind him and after hugging Bella she kissed me on the cheek and said, "Happy birthday Edward, glad to see you're still with us. Bella's present didn't kill you I see," she said with a wink and a high five to Bella.

"Rose! I tried everything I could to get you to spill what she planned and you told me you didn't have a clue where she was taking me to dinner," I said as I glared at her.

I did too; I tried everything I could think of to get her to spill. I knew if anyone knew what Bella was doing for me it would have been her so I offered to tell her stories about Emmett, told her I would help her move to the house Esme had found for her and Jasper…hell I even offered to buy her a car to fix up if she would tell me…but she swore she didn't know.

"I can't believe you knew she was taking me to Masa and didn't tell me," I huffed and sat down beside Emmett on the stool.

"Holy hell Bell, you took him to Masa? How on earth did you manage that?" Rose shrieked at her and my eyes almost bugged out of my head.

"But that means…oh shit," I sighed as I bent over and rested my head against my arms.

I listened as Bella explained to Rose and Emmett, and now Jasper and Ali who had just walked in about our dinner at Masa. Everyone was in awe of her choice of restaurants and were also extremely jealous that we had had the opportunity to eat there.

"You are one lucky fucker," my brother said as we watched the girls talking among themselves as Bella described her dress and then the food and the restaurant. I nodded my head at him and said, "No shit big brother. Lucky doesn't even come close to describing what I am."

"She looks very pleased with herself," Jasper said from my other side.

"It was a hell of a night, that's for damn sure," I smirked at him.

"Edward, did you like the present Ali and I helped her pick out for you?" Rose asked with a wicked gleam in her eye.

I gulped audibly and I shifted on my seat…and I may or may not have moaned as well as images of Bella in that sexy as fuck piece of lingerie instantly filled my mind. I couldn't even answer so I just nodded, much the amusement of the three women.

"Daddy, Nana says its time to open your presents so yous needs to come to the living room," Maddie said and started pushing Ali and Emmett out of the room.

Rose walked out beside me and I threw my arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek and said, "I owe you so big Rose, you just name it, and it's yours."

"Be careful what you offer there Edward, you never know what I'll come up with," she teased me with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "Bet she stunned you speechless didn't she?" Rose asked as we made our way into the living room where Bella was sitting with Maddie and Masen on either side of her.

"You have no fucking idea," I said and shook my head as I made my way over to Bella and the kids.

Once we were finished with presents and dinner, the kids and Bella brought me my cake. My mouth watered when I saw it was indeed chocolate and though it was the messiest cake I'd ever seen in my life, it meant more than a cake bought from a bakery.

The kids decorated the cake, that much was so obvious, but that is what made it special. What made it even more so was the fact that I knew Bella, Maddie and Masen all made it together. "Happy Birthday dear Daddy, happy birthday to you," the kids finished singing and I had to wipe my eyes from the sweetness of the moment.

I wrapped them up in a huge bear hug and kissed them each…much to the amusement of Maddie and to the annoyance of Masen. He was in a phase where he'd much rather get a kiss from Bella than from the old man…not that I could really blame him.

We ate my delicious cake, and I had to fight Emmett and Jasper to make sure they didn't get seconds because, yeah again…I don't like to share…and then it was time for Jasper and Alice to take my girl back to the loft. Since I'd been gone since Friday night, I wanted to spend some time with the kids and Bella had an early morning photo shoot she had to go to, so tonight and tomorrow night were going to be spent here at Ma and Pop's.

"Thank you so much for my birthday present baby," I whispered to Bella after I gave her what I think was one of the longest kisses in the history of kisses. She reached up and held the medal in her fingers and looked up at me and said, "You're more than welcome Edward. I'm glad you like it."

She had given me a Saint Luke medal, the patron saint of doctors and had it blessed by Father O'Connor and engraved as well. When I read the inscription for the first time, I couldn't help but chuckle and then wonder at the timeliness considering what was going on right now:

Because even Superman needs help now and then…All my love always, Bella

"It's been the best birthday ever angel, thank you for all you did for me. I had an amazing weekend," I told her as I brushed her hair back behind her ears and kissed her one more time on the lips and then on the forehead so that she could leave.

"I love you Edward, I'll talk to you in the morning after I'm done with the shoot, okay? And, I'm so glad you enjoyed your weekend," Bella said as she held my hand and I walked her to the car.

"Sweet dreams baby, sleep well," I whispered to her as she slipped inside the car and headed for home…our home.